Sensored insulation plug

A process of making a sensored insulation plug for being inserted into a rear cavity of a medium-voltage or high-voltage separable connector in a power distribution network of a national grid, and operable to insulate a connection element of the separable connector on elevated voltage and to sense the elevated voltage, the process comprising the steps, in this sequence, of:

• a) providing a high-voltage electrode of a primary capacitor for direct electrical connection to the elevated voltage, and a sensing electrode of the primary capacitor, having a tubular shape and comprising a mesh of conductive wires forming a plurality of apertures between the wires to allow portions of an insulating material on opposite sides of the mesh to be mechanically connected with each other by insulating material in the apertures while the insulating material solidifies and thereafter, wherein the mesh is a deformable mesh, adapted to be deformed by insulating material in liquid state flowing around the mesh before solidification of the insulating material;
• b) arranging the sensing electrode around the high-voltage electrode;
• c) molding or casting a liquid insulating material around the high-voltage electrode and the sensing electrode for forming a plug body of the sensored insulation plug, such that the sensing electrode is embedded in the insulating material and such that a portion of the insulating material forms a dielectric between the sensing electrode and the high-voltage electrode;
• and
• d) solidifying the insulating material.

A sensored insulation plug for being inserted into a rear cavity of a medium-voltage or high-voltage separable connector in a power distribution network of a national grid, and operable to insulate a connection element of the separable connector on an elevated voltage and to sense the elevated voltage, the sensored insulation plug comprising

• a) a plug body formed by a solidified insulating material, and
• b) a primary capacitor, operable as a high-voltage capacitor in a voltage divider for sensing the elevated voltage, the primary capacitor having
• i) a high-voltage electrode for direct electrical connection to the elevated voltage;
• ii) a sensing electrode of a tubular shape, embedded in the plug body, arranged around the high-voltage electrode, and comprising a mesh of conductive wires forming a plurality of apertures between the wires to allow portions of the insulating material on opposite sides of the mesh to be mechanically connected with each other by insulating material in the apertures while the insulating material solidifies and thereafter;
• iii) a dielectric formed by a portion of the insulating material arranged between the sensing electrode and the high-voltage electrode,
• wherein the mesh is a deformable mesh, adapted to be deformed by insulating material in liquid state flowing around the mesh before solidification of the insulating material, wherein the mesh has a generally cylindrical shape defining an axial direction and radial directions orthogonal thereto, and wherein the mesh is adapted to be deformed in radial directions.

A sensored insulation plug for being inserted into a rear cavity of a medium-voltage or high-voltage separable connector in a power distribution network of a national grid, and operable to insulate a connection element of the separable connector on an elevated voltage and to sense the elevated voltage, the sensored insulation plug comprising

• a) a plug body formed by a solidified insulating material, and
• b) a primary capacitor, operable as a high-voltage capacitor in a voltage divider for sensing the elevated voltage, the primary capacitor having
• i) a high-voltage electrode for direct electrical connection to the elevated voltage;
• ii) a sensing electrode of a tubular shape, embedded in the plug body, arranged around the high-voltage electrode, and comprising a mesh of conductive wires forming a plurality of apertures between the wires to allow portions of the insulating material on opposite sides of the mesh to be mechanically connected with each other by insulating material in the apertures while the insulating material solidifies and thereafter;
• iii) a dielectric formed by a portion of the insulating material arranged between the sensing electrode and the high-voltage electrode, wherein the mesh is a deformable mesh, adapted to be deformed by insulating material in liquid state flowing around the mesh before solidification of the insulating material;
• a shield electrode of generally tubular shape, embedded in the plug body, arranged around, and enveloping, the sensing electrode;
• and
• an electrically insulating spacer layer arranged radially between the shield electrode and the sensing electrode.